Cartridge-type turbine starter



F 1962 .1. H. FERGUSON, JR. ET AL CARTRIDGE-TYPE TURBINE STARTER Filed Oct. 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l9 7 '47 131 I23 I41 |39 2: l i 25 155 37 l5l Mmw 97 SPEED E K 55 w w I x SWITCH SOLENO|D STARTER GEAR '3 SECTION 3| ARTRIDGE c 39 CONTAINER INVENTORS 67 JOHN H. FERGUSON JR.

HENRY R. SCHMIDER FIG. 2

BY Ww mi ATTORNEY 1962 J. H. FERGUSON, JR., ET AL 3,021,672

CARTRIDGE-TYPE TURBINE STARTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1959 FIG. 3

m. om m mu W m I W W R m a .R m mu 5 m 4 9 Feb. 20, 1962 J. H. FERGUSON, JR., ET AL 3,021,672

CARTRIDGE-TYPE TURBINE STARTER Filed Oct. 2, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS JOHN H. FERGUSON, JR.

HENRY R. SCHMIDER Mai ATTORNEY 3,921,672 CARTRIDGE-TYPE TURBINE STARTER John H. Ferguson, .lr., Sauqnoit, and Henry R. Schmider, Utica, N31, assignors to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 844,032 6 Claims. (Cl. oil-39.14)

This invention relates to turbine starters and more particularly concerns turbine starters in which driving gases are derived from a cartridge or other source which generates gases until consumed.

in cartridge-type turbine starters, control means must be provided for diverting the gases from the turbine wheel to exhaust when engine starting speed is reached or when no load is connected and the starter can accelerate to destructive speeds. It has been proposed to use a circular cut-oflf plate or diverter between a ring of nozzles and the peripheral blades of the turbine wheel. This diverter is normally aligned so that its holes are registered with the nozzles. At a predetermined speed, this diverter is rotated to cut-off position. Such a diverter is subject to malfunction due to heat and residue from the cartridge gases. Likewise, proposed means for operating such a diverter, since exposed to heat and residue, are not as reliable as desired.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved to cartridge-type turbine starter having diverting means and control means therefor which function more reliably and are not subject to the above-noted disadvantages.

Another object is the provision of an improved cartridge-type turbine starter in which the manual action of turning the cover of the cartridge container into closed and locked position actuates the cut-off plate to aligned position.

A further object is to provide such an improved starter in which the cut-off plate is locked in aligned position by externally-located control means and at a predetermined speed is unlocked for return to diverting position.

An additional object is the provision of an improved cartridge-type turbine starter in which an arcuate cut-ofi plate is pivoted to aligned and diverting positions in relation to two turbine nozzles.

The realization of the above objects along with the features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention and the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially-cross-sectioned side View of a cartridge starter with facing parts of the control means on top of the cartridge container broken away and shows control means holding the cut-off plate in alignment so that gases are directed from nozzles to thetur'oine blades;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the bottom of turbine section with part of the housing andnozzle structure omitted and shows the cut-off plate pivoted to aligned position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the bottom of the turbine section and the cartridge container and includes a cross-section showing the alignment between a nozzle and an opening in the cut-off plate;

FIG. 4 is a partially-cross-sectioned top view of the control means mounted on the top of the cartridge container and shows control elements as positioned in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged side view of the control means with parts broken away and shows the control elements as positioned when the cut-off plate is pivoted to diverting position and FIG. 6 is an end view of the cut-off plate and turbine wheel and shows the diverting position.

In FIG. 1, the starter gear section 11 having gearing 3,21,672 Patented Feb. 26, 1962 and engine connection spline 13 is connected to the axial flow turbine wheel 15 having peripheral blades 17 so that wheel 15 can rotate an engine (not shown) to starting speed. The starter gear section 11 (diagrammatically shown) includes a planetary gearsystem and jaw type engaging mechanism such as shown in U.S. Patent #2,- 885,895. Speed responsive means 19 is mounted on gear section 11 and includes a normally-closed centrifugal speed switch 21 mechanically linked to the gear section II (as represented by the dashed line to spline 13) so that the switch 21 is opened at a predetermined starting speed. Speed responsive means 19 further includes a solenoid 23 having a plunger 25 which is spring-biased to the right. The solenoid 23 is energized through the speed switch 21 when the starter is fired by closing starter switch 28. Energization of the solenoid 23 causes plunger opening of switch 2% and a control operation will result.

so that turbine wheel 15 is no longer powered as will be described.

Gases for driving the turbine wheel 15 are provided by igniting 'a solid propellant cartridge in cylindrical container 31 supported by brackets 32 and 33 at the right of the turbine housing 34. Cartridge container or gas generator 31 includes a receiver or breech 35 having an igniter 37 projecting therefrom and a smaller diameter cylindrical cover 39 having a handle 41. Brackets 32 and 33 extend between receiver 35 and housing 34. Cover 39 is conventionally received and locked or attached by means of its external lugs 43 and camming split threads 45 (see FIG. 5) in the interior of receiver 35. Igniter 37 is energized by its connection to starter switch 28. Cartridge gases from breech 35 are moved to two inclined nozzles 47 (one appearing) and pass through a pivoted nozzle cut-off plate -49 for impingement on the blades 17 as will now be described.

In FIGS. 1-3, it can be seen that gases from breech 35 pass through pipe 51 to an arcuate nozzle manifold 53 (FIG. 3) and then into two nozzles 4-7 (one appearing). A nozzle 47 is positioned at each side of the bottom center part of turbine housing 34. Manifold '53 and the two nozzles 47 are mounted in the inlet wall 57 of housing 34. Housing 34 provides an exhaust chamber 56 and includes a ring 59 which surrounds the tips of the turbine blades 17 and has openings 60 connecting to exhaust outlet 67. This construction provides for ex haust fiow and the pivot arrangement. In FIG. 2 the two nozzles 47 have been omitted in order to show the two inclined openings 61 in the flat arcuate cut-off plate 49 which is in position to register with the nozzles. Plate 49 is provided with two recesses 63 and 65 for laterally diverting and permitting the escape of gases when the plate 49 is pivoted to block the discharge from nozzles 47 to blades 17. With this construction, it is apparent that gases will fiow to exhaust outlet 67 via the space at the sideof and below the nozzles 47 between the transverse inlet housing wall 57 and the inlet side of the turbine wheel 15. The cut-off plate 49 is mounted on pivot shaft 71 for rotation therewith and shaft 71 has a pivot crank 73 connected thereto. An operating arm 75 at its bottom end is connected to crank 73 and extends upwardly between the housing and container to control means 77 which is adapted to move arm 75 upwardly and thus pivot the cut-off plate 49 to blocking position between the nozzles and blades.

In FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the details of the control means 77 are illustrated. By reference to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the top end of arm 75 is connected to an operating lever 81 which has a locking step 83 in a curved edge mounted on shaft 87.

85. Operating lever 81 is fixed to shaft 87 by means of pin 89. A shaft arm 91 extends up from the far end of shaft 87 and has two coil springs 93 and 94 connected thereto (see FIG. 4). The springs 93 and 94 are also connected to a rod 95 held by brackets 97 which extend from support structure 99 fastened to receiver 35. Structure 99 includes an extension 101 extending toward the turbine housing 34 which supports shaft 87 and has inclined top surface 103. Shaft arm 91 has boss which abuts surface 193 when arm 91 is rotated clockwise (see FIG. 4). It is apparent that springs 93 and 94 bias operating lever 81 for clockwise rotation as limited by boss 104 so that the cut-off plate 49 is urged to blocking position. This movement is prevented by locking arm 105 which has detent 107 at the top end of a curved surface 109. Surface 109 mates with the curved edge of operating lever 81. Detent 107 fits into step 83 and thus prevents rotation of operating lever 81 since locking arm is urged for locking (counterclockwise) by pin 111 and spring 113. Pin 111 slides in slot 115 in forked cam follower 117 which has two extensions 119 and 121 extending to the left at each side of pin 111 and locking arm 105 and being rotatably Locking arm 105 is mounted on pin 123 which extends between extensions 119 and 121 below the level of pin 111. Cam follower 117 has a vertically-movable cam roller 125 mounted thereon to the right of pin 111. Roller 125 rides on the top of inclined circumferential cam surface 127 connected to breech 35. At the other left end of cam follower 117, a pin 128 extends through follower 117 and a torsion spring 129 is connected to pin 123 and fastened in support structure extension 191 (see FIG. 4) so that earn follower is urged in clockwise direction as limited by pin 128 when free to rotate about shaft 87 and so that follower roller 125 can be moved upwardly by earn 127 when cover 39 is again attached.

Above the operating lever 81, a trigger lever 131 is mounted on pin 133. The right trigger arm 135 rides on the top of extension 137 of locking arm 105 (see FIG. 1) while the left trigger arm 139 is biased clockwise by leaf spring 141 when the starter is ready to be fired. Trigger pin 133 is mounted in two parallel arms 143 which are connected at trigger lever 131 by a cross mem her 145 to which leaf spring 141 is connected. The bottom parts of arms 143 are rotatably mounted on shaft 87 interiorly of follower 117. The top parts of arms 143 carry a' spring roller 147. Coil spring 151 extends between roller 147 and the spring rod 95 mounted on brackets 97. It is apparent that if trigger lever 131 (as positioned in FIG. 1) is moved to the left it will drop in front of locking arm 105 and if then released unlock arm 105 since spring 151 will pull trigger arm 139 to the right. This action is possible by leftward movement of cable 29 which has a forked end 155 mounted on trigger pin 133 carried by arms 143. The forked end 155 inclines downwardly and has a pin 157 below the right arm 135 of trigger lever 131. It is apparent that, when cable 29 is moved to the left, trigger lever 131 will be moved down against pin 157 and in front of locking arm 105 and, when the cable 29 is released by de-energizing solenoid 23, locking arm 105 (biased by spring 151) will be unlocked from operating lever 81 (biased by springs 93 and 94) which will then move the cut-off plate 49 to blocking position.

In operation, the cover 39 with a cartridge projecting therefrom is inserted in the receiver 35 and rotated clockwise a predetermined extent by handle 4.1 untillocked by means of lugs 43 and partial threads 45 so that the cartridge within the resulting container or gas generator 31 can provided pressurized gases when ignited. The attachment of cover 39 also causes cam surface 127 to move the overhanging cam roller 125 upwardly so that the locking arm carried by cam follower 117 engages and rotates the operating lever 81. This counterclockwise rotation of lever 81 against springs 93 and 94 results in operating arm 75 moving downwardly. This movement is imparted to crank 73 by arm 75 so that cut-off plate 49 is pivoted and the two holes 61 are aligned with the two nozzles 47. The control means 77 and cut-off plate 49 will thus be positioned as shown in'FIGS. l and 2. It is to be no noted that, in preparing the cartridge container 31 for firing or gas generation, the operability of the cut-off plate 49 is established. If the cut-off plate 49 cannot be pivoted due to jamming from cartridge particles or residue, it will not be possible to load a cartridge since cover 39 will not rotate into position. Thus, a movable element on the container or gas generator provides, when the gas generator is prepared for gas generation, with the control means 77 an arrangement for moving the cut-off plate 49 to aligned position, if the plate is operable. Further, the pivoting arrangement prevents accumulation of residue from cartridge gases at ring 59 and nozzles 47 so that jamming therefrom does not result.

After loading a cartridge and thus aligning the operable cut-off plate 49, the starter switch 23 is closed when a start is desired so that the cartridge is ignited by igniter 37 and trigger lever 131 is dropped in front of locking arm 1115 by energizing solenoid 23. Gases then pass to nozzles 47 through passage meanswhich are free of a gas-flow control element so that the turbine wheel 15 is powered. -When the starter reaches cut-off or starting speed, the centrifugally-actuated, speed-responsive switch 21 will open and de-energize the solenoid 23 so that spring-biased trigger lever 131 moves to the right and releases locking arm and springs 93 and 94 are effective via shaft arm 91, operating lever 31, arm 75, and crank 73 to pivot the cut-off plate 49 to diverting position. In this position, excess cartridge gases are diverted laterally and directly into the exhaust 67 and'bypass the turbine wheel blades 17. Such action also protects the starter at the predetermined speed if the starter is not loaded. Since the externally-located control means 77 is not exposed to cartridge gases and does not use gases, improved reliability results.

It is to be understood that changes can be made in the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A turbine starter comprised of an axial-flow turbine wheel having peripheral blades, starter gearing connected to said wheel, housing means encasing said turbine wheel and including nozzles arranged to direct gases to said blades, a cut-off plate between said nozzles and said blades constructed when in a first position to pass gases from said nozzles to said blades and when in a second position to divert gases leaving said nozzles away from said blades, 21 gas generating device connected to said nozzles and having a cover and receiver, said gas generating device being constructed so that said cover is moved a predetermined extent when said cover is attached to said receiver, control means mounted on said receiver, said control means being connected through said housing to said plate and normally urging said plate to said second position, said control means including operating means constructed when actuated to move said plate to said first position, said operating means being actuated by said cover when said cover is moved said predetermined extent, speed responsive means connected to said starter gearing and arranged to release said operating means at a predetermined speed of said starter gearing whereby said cutoff plate is returned to said second position by said control means.

2. A turbine starter comprised of an axial-flow turbine wheel having peripheral blades, a starter gear section having gearing connected to said wheel, housing means encasing said turbine wheel and including two nozzles arranged to direct gases to said blades, 21 gas generator having an attachable cover and passage means which connect the generator to said nozzles, said passage means being free of a gas-flow control element, a flat arcuate cutofi plate between said nozzles and said blades and having a pivot shaft rotatably mounted, said plate having two openings for alignment with said nozzles and having two diverting recesses, a pivot crank connected to said pivot shaft, control means connected to said pivot crank arranged to be actuated when said cover is attached to position said cut-oif plate so that said two openings are in register with said two nozzles, said control means normally urging said cut-off plate so that said diverting re cesses face said nozzles, speed responsive means connected to said gear section and arranged to actuate said control means at a predetermined speed of said gear section so that said cut-off plate is pivoted so that said diverting recesses face said nozzles.

3. A turbine starter comprised of a turbine wheel having peripheral blades, a starter gear section connected to and extending from one side of said turbine wheel, housing means encasing said turbine wheel and providing a transverse inlet wall at the other side of said turbine wheel, said wall being spaced from said wheel and having two nozzles mounted in the bottom edge part, said housing means providing a ring surrounding the periphery of said blades and a bottom exhaust outlet below the turbine wheel, an arcuate cut-01f plate between said nozzles and said ring and said blades mounted on a pivot shaft, said plate having two holes for passing gases from said nozzles to said turbine blades and two recesses for laterally diverting gases from said nozzles, said ring having openings for passage of exhaust gases from the turbine wheel to the exhaust outlet, a cylindrical container for a cartridge comprised of a receiver connected to said nozzles and a cover received and locked in said receiver, said receiver being supported by said housing means, control means mounted on the top of said receiver and including an operating lever, a pivot crank connected to said pivot shaft, an operating arm having a bottom end connected to said pivot arm, said operating arm having a top end connected to said operating lever, said control means including a vertically-movable cam roller positioned above said cover, said cover including a circumferential cam arranged to move said cam roller upwardly when said cover is locked in said receiver, said control means being constructed so that, when said cam roller is moved upwardly, said control means causes said cut-off plate to be pivoted to register said plate holes with said nozzles, speed responsive means mounted on said starter gear section and connected to said control means, said speed responsive means being arranged to actuate said control means at a predetermined speed of said turbine wheel, said control means being constructed so that when actuated by said speed responsive means said operating lever causes said cut-off plate to be pivoted to position said laterally-diverting recesses between said nozzles and said turbine wheel whereby said turbine wheel is not powered.

4. A turbine starter comprised of a turbine wheel having peripheral blades, a starter gear section connected to and extending from one side of said turbine wheel, housing means encasing said turbine wheel and providing a transverse inlet wall at the other side of said turbine wheel, said wall being spaced from said wheel and having two nozzles mounted in the bottom edge part, said housing means providing a ring surrounding the periphery of said blades and a bottom exhaust outlet below the turbine Wheel, an arcuate cut-off plate mounted on a pivot shaft, said plate having two holes for passing gases from said nozzles to said turbine blades and two recesses for laterally diverting gases from said nozzles, cylindrical container for a cartridge extending transversely along said inlet wall, said container being comprised of a receiver connected to said nozzles and a cover received and locked in said receiver, said receiver being supported by said housing means, control means mounted on the top of said receiver and including an operating lever extending toward said housing inlet wall, a pivot crank connected to said pivot shaft, an operating arm having a bottom end connected to said pivot arm and extending upwardly between said housing inlet wall and said cartridge container, said operating arm having a top end connected to said operating lever, said control means including a vertically-movable cam roller positioned above said cover, said cover including a circumferential cam arranged to move said cam roller upwardly when said cover is locked in said receiver, said control means being constructed so that, when said cam roller is moved upwardly, said control means causes said cut-off plate to be pivoted to register said plate holes with said nozzles, speed responsive means mounted on said starter gear section and connected to said control means by a cable, said speed responsive means being arranged to move said cable axially at a predetermined speed of said turbine wheel, said control means being constructed so that when said cable is moved axially said operating lever causes said cut-off plate to be pivoted to position said laterally-diverting recesses between said nozzles and said turbine wheel whereby said turbine wheel is not powered, said control means being arranged so that when said cover is removed and then again locked in said receiver said cut-off plate will be pivoted to register said plate holes with said nozzles.

5. A turbine starter comprised of an axial-flow turbine wheel having peripheral blades, a starter gear section having gearing connected to said wheel, housing means encasing said turbine wheel and having a transverse wall adjacent said turbine wheel opposite said gearing, a nozzle mounted in said wall and arranged to direct gases to said blades, a gas generator having passage means which connect the generator to said nozzle, said passage means being free of a gas-flow control element, said gas generator having a receiver and a cover rotatably-locked in said receiver, said cover having an inclined circumferential cam, a flat arcuate cut-off plate between said nozzle and said blades and having a pivot shaft rotatably mounted in said wall adjacent said nozzle to provide a pivotable cut-off plate, said plate having an opening for alignment with said nozzle and having a diverting recess, a pivot crank connected to said pivot shaft, control means connected to said pivot crank and normally urging said cut-off plate so that said diverting recess faces said nozzle, said control means being actuated by said cover cam when said cover is locked in said receiver and being arranged when so actuated to pivot said cut-off plate so that said opening is in register with said nozzle, speed responsive means connected to said gear section and arranged to actuate said control means at a predetermined speed of said gear section so that said cutoff plate is pivoted to divert gases leaving said nozzle away from said blades.

6. A turbine starter comprised of an axial-flow turbine wheel having peripheral blades, starter gearing connected to said wheel, housing means encasing said turbine wheel and including nozzles arranged to direct gases to said blades, a cut-otf plate between said nozzles and said blades constructed when in a first position to pass gases from said nozzles to said blades and when in a second position to divert gases leaving said nozzles away from said blades, a gas generating device connected to said nozzles and including a movable element, said gas generating device being constructed so that said movable element is moved a predetermined extent when said device is prepared for. gas generation, control means connected to said plate and normally urging said plate to said second position, said control means including operating means constructed when actuated to move said plate to said first position, said operating means being actuated by said movable element when said movable element is References Cited in the file of this patent moved said predetermined extent, speed responsive means UNITED STATES PATENTS connected to said starter gearing and arranged to release said operating means at a predetermined speed of 2,651,493 Volk P 1953 Said starter gearing whereby said cut-off plate i turned 5 2,889,117 Wimpress June 2, 1959 to said second position by said control means. 2,922,050 Loughran Jan. 19, 1960 

